UPDATED 7/1/18 — There’s no argument that Los Angeles has some of the country’s best vegan food. Lucky for Angelenos, some of those vegan goodies can be found in Downtown LA’s hottest new food playground, Smorgasburg LA. To help you find the best vegan food at Smorgasburg LA, check out this COMPLETE guide of the hanger-quelling, drool-tastic, Instagram-worthy plant-based noms so you can ‘Eat All of the Vegan Food at Smorgasburg LA.”

What’s their deal: Acai bowls have reached peak Instagramability in Los Angeles, but no bowl can top Amazebowls delicious hemp-milk based vegan bowls which are almost too pretty to eat. With two store fronts under it’s belt (Venice Beach & DTLA Arts District), Amazebowls sets up shop every Sunday at Smorgasburg to offer their delicious vegan bowls, including the infamous Coconut Amazebowl served in an actual coconut topped with a Pineapple Crisp and fresh flowers. No filters necessary, hands down food porn right here.

What’s their deal: In addition to their already popular location in Chinatown, Celebrity Chef Eddie Huang brings his NYC famed Baohaus to Smorgasburg LA every Sunday. Pick yourself up the vegan Uncle Jesse Bao featuring organic fried tofu served with crushed peanuts, Taiwanese red sugar, cilantro, and his special Haus Sauce. But for me personally, I think the REAL star of the show are the addictingly good Taro Fries served with a tangy and flavorful tomato chutney. Together it’s a winning combination that just can’t be missed 🙌🏽.

What’s their deal: The Base is actually a premium craft syrups maker who specializes in unique sweeteners (called bases) and brewed teas made of fresh fruits, herbs, and raw sugar. However, once a week this artisanal sweetener company graces the masses at Smorgasburg with magical craft drinks like the mesmerizingly blue-ish/purple Lychee Butterfly Pea soda or the herbaceous Thyme Orange soda. Plus, it comes in an uber-cool glass bottle which you can keep forever (and save $$ the next time you come back with it).

What’s their deal: Allison and Janice So grew up in a Cantonese household where a healthy bone-broth soup was the cornerstone of most of their childhood memories. After spending some time in the corporate world in NYC, the So sisters moved back to their native California to get back to their roots and explore the world of healthy homemade broths. Although they’re known for their ginormous Xiao Long Bao soup dumplings made with traditional bone broth, they’ve also added a Vegan friendly broth to their menu and feature a new Vegan dumpling made with tofu, shiitake mushrooms, and edamame that can be served with the broth or crispy pan-fried (pictured above).

What’s their deal: Cena Vegan prides themselves on their home-cooked, small-batch, quality menu items that embodies the best of Mexican cuisine. According to their website, ‘Cena’ is a Spanish term for a temporary location where families sell meals or specialty foods, commonly associated with a light bulb letting customers know they’re open (hence the logo). With this idea at the core of their business, all of the vegan meats are made in-house using old family recipes, with only the freshest, healthiest, and eco friendliest ingredients. The home made mock meats can be ordered in a burrito, a taco, or an a monster pile of nachos, and are even available for sale by the pound. Pro Tip: Try the hot sauce – it’s killer and goes with everything!

What’s their deal: Chichi Dango is famous for incorporating their Japanese Milk Mochi (obvs, not vegan) into their shaved ice desserts, but they also have an amazing Dole Whip that very conveniently happens to be vegan (just ask for no mochi when ordering!). No more schlepping down to Anaheim for a vegan Dole Whip at Disney- we have it right here in our backyard, thanks to the folks at Chichi Dango.

What’s their deal: With a well established storefront in Highland Park, Donut Friend has amassed a cult following (Strawberry Lab forever!!!) thanks to their delicious and equally inventive lineup of their 100% vegan donuts (giant donuts, donut cakes, and donut letters available upon special request). Although they only have one B&M location (at the moment), we can thank our lucky donut lovin’ stars for their booth at Smorgasburg serving up fresh donuts on a weekly basis.

What’s their deal: Chef and traveler Duvaldi Marneweck operated the first Goa Taco at the original Smorgasburg in Brooklyn NY, where fanfare and critical acclaim lead him to open his first B&M location in Manhattan. Goa made its way to the Golden State with a second storefront in sunny Santa Barbara, but has returned back to its Smorgasburg roots by operating their highly popular truck at LA’s Smorgasburg where they feature their delicious Tofu Banh Mi Taco.

What’s their deal: With an impressive culinary background, chef Jason Winters brings the flavors of the middle-east to Smorgasburg LA every Sunday with his inventive middle-eastern/Mexican fusion dishes. Don’t miss his crispy Cauliflower Falafel tacos served in a warm tahini tortilla with pickled veggies and a melange of other toppings.

What’s their deal: I’m just going to come out and say it. THIS DRINK IS THE BEST DRINK AT SMORGASBURG LA 🏆. There. It’s out there. Although Katsu Sando doesn’t have any vegan bites at the moment (I was told they’re working on it, so hang tight), do yourself a favor and get your hands on their irresistible Yuzu Palmer drink. What is a Yuzu Palmer you ask? It’s half Yuzu lemonade, half Matcha tea, all delicious. It’s super refreshing, and just perfectly sweet, and you definitely get what you pay for considering the team at KD uses freshly squeezed Yuzu juice imported directly from Japan. Not a lot of business do that, and the taste proves why its worth the effort.

What to get: Mint Tea or Lemon Slush with Strawberry, Peach, Melon, Tropical or Ginger flavor (flavors are seasonal)

What’s their deal: Remember those toxic neon slushies you used to get as a kid? Well, Lade Slush Co.’s making slushies cool again, but this time they’re updating the icy treat with all natural, locally sourced, fresh ingredients to make their innovative slushie combos the perfect treat Smorgasburg needs to beat the heat. And they are fun to make too! Pick a slush (mint tea or lemon) and add a flavor, or layer two flavors for a juicy treat.

What’s their deal: Creator & Chef Jean Valcarcel brings the familiar flavors and classic dishes of his Peruvian heritage downtown in the form of Tacos, an accessible and beloved format. After hosting his wildly popular Re Creo Supperclub pop-ups and catering service, Valcarcel, along with creative director Angela Wagner, they bring their talent to Smorgasburg LA to serve a unique and interesting array of organic, non-GMO, and Vegan options.

What to get: Check out their seasonal Veggie and Vegan tacos served on a Kale Tortilla with Mole, Soyrizo, Mushrooms, Artichoke Hearts, and more.

What’s their deal: Ever met a taco that was too pretty to eat? Well, you have to check out the seasonal vegan specials served up by Macheen LA, who’s found creative ways to upgrade the classic street taco with brightly colored vegetable tortillas (like the Kale Tortilla, pictured above) and equally impressive hand-made fillings and sauces. Grab a single taco, or a taco plate – you won’t be disappointed either way!

What’s their deal: Japanese Rice Balls called Onigiri or Omusubi (aka. Musubi in Hawaii) is the convenient and portable snack that can be stuffed with just about anything. Mama Musubi has taken the scene by storm with their fun and inventive flavor combos, one of which is vegan featuring sea vegetables and a bold Rayu (Japanese Chili Oil).

What’s their deal: The creative minds behind Cosmic Indian’s Golden Clouds returns this summer with their new interpretation on a classic Indian street food with Masala Bubbles. A modern take on India’s ‘Pani Puri’, these perfectly round and addictingly crispy ‘puris’ get a modern makeover with bright and flavorful sauces made with superfoods and stuffed with fun fillings like marinated apricots and coconuts, or aachar masala (pickle spice) potatoes. They even have a dessert version, and Simran the owner even has ‘live eatings’ where the Masala Bubbles are prepared for you on the spot and handed over one-by-one, just like it’s done in the streets of Mumbai!

What’s their deal: After going viral for their epic ‘Ali Baba Kabob Burrito’, Mid East Tacos (formerly Kabob Burrito) opened up shop at Smorgasburg LA where they invented the iconic Vegan Falafel Taco. Their crispy falafel is served on fresh handmade corn tortillas and are best enjoyed with one of their ice cold Armenian sodas.

What’s their deal: Offshore Tea Blenders (formerly known as Sky High Tea) is a wholesale loose leaf tea distributor, who sets up shop every week at Smorgasburg to serve their perfectly brewed iced teas and matcha drinks to the thirsty crowds. While many tea vendors sell pretty traditional blends, Offshore aims to make their teas fun and approachable, so they sell a few blends that are uniquely curated for balance flavor such as Oolong with Marigold or Sencha and Kombu, or Yerba Mate with Charcoal. The teas are all natural, sugar free, and free of additives and preservatives. My personal favorite is the Sencha which has a bright green freshness with mellow tones of the sea – serenity in a cup!

What’s their deal: On a crusade against the ‘LA bagel’, the team at Pop’s Bagels have committed to bringing fresh baked bagels straight out of an oven to a hungry mouth near you. Armed with an electric oven and fresh homemade cultured cashew cream cheese, Pop’s Bagels wants you to enjoy a truly enlightening bagel experience that can only be had hot out of the hearth. Although it’s not on the menu, they’re happy to make you a vegan bagel sandwich with fresh veggies and their homemade vegan cream cheese.

What to get: Vegan Mofongos, Banana Canoe w/ Jackfruit, Tostones, Platter, or any of the above with Jackfruit

What’s their deal: Chef and owner Jose Rivera brings the taste of Puerto Rico to Smorgasburg with a healthier and fresher perspective. Free of artificial colors and flavors, The Ricans is very vegan friendly, forgoing the traditional method of using chicken stock, lard, and pork skins in their mofongo for a healthier plant based version made with olive oil instead. I had a chance to speak with chef Rivera, and after discussing some of the stigma in latino culture towards vegan food, he let me know that their vegan Mofongos, and recently released Banana Canoes, “are Puerto Rican approved.”

What’s their deal: Honoring her Cuban and Brazilian roots, this savvy Señoreata has veganized some of the hardest latino dishes to find sin carné, and brings the flavor of Havana to Smorgasburg LA every Sunday for your dining pleasure. Iconic Cuban dishes like Ropa Vieja and Arroz Con Pollo get a vegan makeover, and portions are as generous as they are delicious.

What’s their deal: Although Shrimp Daddy is known for their outrageously popular Butter-Garlic Shrimp dishes, they also have a hidden vegan gem on their menu in the form of Chilled Pineapple with Lihing Powder. If you’re not familiar, Lihing powder is a popular Asian condiment made from salted preserved plums which is served on fruit and candy in Hawaii. The flavor is sweet, salty, and a little tangy, and it goes great with cold pineapple on a hot day. You really need to experience it yourself! Best of all, you can step on over to Shrimp Daddy’s sister-store Sip next door and pair it with a refreshing Matcha drink for the perfect escape from the SoCal heat.

What’s their deal: Matcha is having a moment, and the team at Sip want to make sure it gets the attention it deserves. The company formerly known as Young Buds took social media by storm last year with their brightly colored matcha drinks topped with real flowers, and this year the team is back and they’re bigger and better than ever. With a shiny new location in Westwood Village, Sip (also co-owned by the team at Shrimp Daddy) brings a fresh new perspective to the ancient tradition of drinking matcha but with a modern twist. Order their signature drink, the dairy-free Magic Matcha, to experience the magically refreshing color changing goodness in all of it’s glory.

What to get: All drinks can be made with either Soy, Almond, or Oat Milk. Drinks include, Coffee, Iced Coffee, Espresso, Latte, Espresso and Tonic, Dirty Chai, and Almond Palmer

What’s their deal: It’s been a hot summer at Smorgasburg LA, but lucky for you Stand Coffee has your back with their amazing drinks served over ice (or hot) with an alternative milk of your choice. Personally, the most refreshing and unique drink was the Almond Palmer, which consists of lemonade, espresso, and almond milk. Seriously, I know what it sounds like… but you just have to try it. It tastes like a cool spring breeze being sipped from a cup on a beach. I never thought I’d be drinking coffee to cool down, but this Almond Palmer is definitely the way to do it.

What’s their deal: With Ultraman being their unofficial logo, Sticky Rice on Wheels delivers on it’s promise to bring Thai style street foods to the masses. With its home base Sticky Rice comfortably tucked in to LA’s famed Grand Central Market, Sticky Rice On Wheels is the stores mobile front that roams along the LA streets bringing Pad Thai and Mango Sticky Rice to the hungry.

What’s their deal: Chef Santiago Restrepo noticed there was little love in the City of Angels for his native Colombian staple – the arepa. Arepas are made of corn maize (so they’re gluten free), water, and salt, and are grilled before being cut open and stuffed with all kinds of goodies in countries like Colombia and Venezuela. Santiago learned this recipe from watching his mother and grandmother, and started making arepas as a passion project. Today his menu includes both traditional and fusion flavors, but there is a special arepa for the vegan fans that is stuffed with plantains, beans, and avocados!

What’s their deal: Originally form Phoenix Arizona, The Tamale Shoppe has opened a second location right here in Smorgasburg LA. At the moment, The Shoppe has one featured vegan item, which is the Red Chile Nopal tamale, which goes great with one of their many agua frescas. But word of advice, come early because they sell out fast! They sell like hot cakes… or should I say, hot tamales? 🤣

What’s their deal: Agua frescas are as ubiquitous to LA as tacos are, but you won’t find another agua fresca in the city like Todo Verde. They pride themselves on their local, fresh, organic and natural ingredients, armed with a mission to bring healthy Latin American foods to LA’s east-side residents. And new this summer, TV has also launched a delicious line of veganized Mexican bites, which includes tacos, ceviche, and MY FAVORITE MEAL IN ALL OF SMORGASBURG LA, MUSHROOM Y MOLE 🏆. Honestly, the Mushroom Mole has a flavor so rich, so deep, and so intense, that I don’t think I’ve ever had anything quite like it before. It truly should not be missed!

What’s their deal: Chef/Owner Karina Jimenez started a cupcake business four years ago, only to learn that the market was saturated with the same old basic cupcakes and cupcake flavors. Growing up with a family of restaurateurs in Mexico, and picking up a degree in the arts in college, it became clear that Karina had to carve out a niche for herself, and thus Viva Los Cupcakes was born. Fans flock to her stall on Sundays, snatching up the traditional Mexican flavors such as Horchata, Conchita, and Tamal con Mole (the mole is made with over 20 seeds, nuts, and spices!). Karina keeps a rotating list of vegan cupcakes, including the deceptively sweet yet savory Tamal con Mole – but be warned, her cupcakes are a hot commodity and often sell out, so get there early and be hungry!

What’s their deal: Founders Adrienne Borlongan & Jon-Patrick Lopez have a passion for travel, and they’ve created Wanderlust to honor their memories of childhood and travels past. With two well-established B&M locations in Tarzana and Atwater Village already under their belt, Wanderlust brings their whimsical global flavors to Smorgasburg with a rotating seasonal menu that always has at least one vegan option, such as their wildly addicting ‘Sticky Rice + Mango’ ice cream.

What’s their deal: Mandoo (or Mandu) are Korean dumplings, in this case LARGE Korean dumplings fried to perfection, served over a bed of salad. Albeit, a bit on the pricy side ($17 for 3), these dumplings are totally instagram worthy with their brightly colored wrappers and perfectly pinched tops, brimming with delicious vegan friendly stuffings such as mushrooms, tofu, and spinach. Don’t miss their equally eye catching Japchae (Korean glass noodle stir fry) served ‘Flying Noodle’ style – just remember to order it with no meat.

So what did you think? See anything you liked? Anything we missed? Hit us up in the comments below, and make sure to tag @TheGPlate on Instagram with any other yummy vegan noms you found in the wild that you think belongs on this list.

Reader Interactions

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Comment

Name *

Email *

Website

Primary Sidebar

Search this website

Welcome to My Blog!

Hi, I'm Sanjay and I recently started this blog to combine my passions for vegan food + all things internet. I'm excited to share some of my favorite vegan (and sometimes healthy) recipes with you, all while improving my food photography and blogging skills along the way! Check out my recipes, and let me know what you think.

Archives

Archives

Footer

Disclaimer:

We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. This is at no additional cost to you.